Judge Issues Trump Gag Order Ahead of ‘Hush Money’ Trial

A day after New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan held a hearing regarding former President Donald Trump’s bid to delay or dismiss the “hush money” case against him, the judge issued a gag order on the candidate. “The uncontested record reflecting the Defendant’s prior extrajudicial statements establishes a sufficient risk to the administration of justice,” the order reads, “and there exists no less restrictive means to prevent such risk.” “Given that the eve of the trial is upon us, it is without question that the imminency of the risk of harm is now paramount,” the judge wrote. Judge Merchan had said in a hearing last year that he would not be entering a gag order at the time, but the order comes after two other courts have issued gag orders on President Trump that have been upheld by appeals panels....